Paragliding Services
Sulidae Paragliding is dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of services for the paragliding and powered paragliding community I am committed to delivering excellence in service and customer experience, quality, and ensuring every aspect of your experience meets the highest standards of safety.
Line replacement
I maintain a wide range of line types and strengths in limited colors on hand. This enables me to build replacement lines for most manufacturers and wing models. I use industrial sewing machines, just like the glider manufactures, to ensure the lines meet the appropriate standards or certifications for strength. Why limit stock on hand? Reason 1- because lines age, even on the spool, in a temperature controlled environment. Reason 2- there are hundreds of different combinations between color, line type, and line strengths used on modern wings. It is not economical to keep all that stock on hand. We are talking about many thousands of dollars of raw line material, that has a limited shelf life. I also do complete wing re-lines. For cost reasons, it is best to use a manufacturer replacement line set than pay to make lines one by one. A modern glider can have over 100 different individual line segments.
Fabric repair
Patches to partial panel, full panel or even partial wing replacements, I repair it. Repairs depend on multiple factors from Wing age, owner cost considerations, Wing class or use. If it is an A glider or beginner PPG wing, the repair method chosen may differ from a high performance competition PG wing or Acrobatic or high speed PPG wing.
Glider inspection
Gliders inspections include internal and external visual checks, fabric porosity measurements, and fabric strength tests. All these results are combined to determine if the Wing remains in condition for safe flight, or may no longer meet the manufacturers minimum conditions for safe flight. It is possible for a Wing to look completely normal, fail porosity and pass a fabric strength test. Porosity tests the fabric coating and the fabric strength tests the ripstop weft and weave. Both are critical to ensure the Wing has sufficient safety and performance margins to safely be flown.
Oxygen Refill
I refill from a large cascade oxygen system, and use a CG-540 adapter, the common type found on Aviator oxygen systems. Mile High O2 uses this adapter on their pulse demand O2 systems . This is not the same valve and adapter as medical O2 systems.
Wing trimming
As the Wing ages, lines shorten and fabric stretches. Wings are designed with a maximum tolerance between the line groups. Exceeding the tolerances may affect safety, handling, and reduces the Wings overall glide performance. Trimming is a manufacturer recommended maintenance activity, and part of required inspections in other countries. I measure each line using a laser, accurate to 1mm, and adjust the line lengths as needed to bring the tolerance back within the manufacturer specifications. Different wing aspect ratios, EN class (A/B/C etc) and manufactures require different tolerances. You will receive a detailed chart with pre and post adjustment measurement graphs and pre and post adjustment line loops. The APPI proprietary software not only adjusts for length, but also for symmetry and arc. Both are crucial to performance and handling characteristics.
Reserve repack
Reserve repacks include an air out, full inspection of the deployment system, line routing, fabric condition, and container fit before completing a repack. If you are only unfolding and repacking without the air out step, you bypass a critical step in the process Regular repacks and air outs, on the manufacturer provided timelines, increase deployment reliability, decrease deployment failures, and ensure longevity of this critical safety system. If you throw your reserve and it saves you from injury or death, and you share your story with me, and allow me to share it, I will repack that reserve for free. There are parameters (no SIV does not count, you should be practicing a reserve deployment there anyway), so please contact me for further details.
Everything else
I am capable and have the equipment for other repairs and maintenance your gear may need. I have modified backpacks to fit better, repaired harnesses, manufactured custom backpacks and bags, and have the capability to 3d print custom parts. If. you have a need, give me a call and lets discuss if it is within my range of capabilities and your cost considerations.
